TC Plus Match of the Day: Ashleigh Barty vs. Sofia Kenin, Wuhan

With the world No. 1 ranking on the line, Ashleigh Barty will look to slice and dice her way past the red-hot Guangzhou Open champion Sofia Kenin. If Barty loses, Karolina Pliskova will reclaim the top spot for the first time since 2017.

World No. 17 Kenin continues to climb toward the upper echelon of the WTA rankings, and Barty likely can’t wait for her to get there. That way, she won’t have the misfortune of facing the plucky American in the early rounds. The two have faced off three times this year and each time is proving more difficult than the last for the Aussie.

In the Fed Cup World Group first round this February, Barty cruised to a straight-set victory over the American. In the Roland Garros fourth round, Kenin took Barty the distance before falling 6-0 in the third set. At the Rogers Cup in August, Kenin finally defeated the French Open champion in the second round to win one of the more compelling matches of the season.

Getty Images

Although Barty is a considerable favorite according to the oddsmakers, Kenin’s recent level has been equal, if not higher. The American’s competitive spirit is second to none, and she won’t let Barty get away with any lazy shots. Barty has the game to wipe any competitor off the court, but oftentimes uses her slice— albeit the best one in the world—too casually and defensively.

Kenin won't be overwhelmed by the low-bouncing slice, plus has seen it a lot this season. Her familiarity with Barty, combined with her recent success and ever increasing confidence, checks all the boxes for a potential upset, and change atop the WTA rankings.